Peace on a leash

04/01/2026

04/01/2026

03/30/2026

If your dog is constantly licking or chewing their paws, it’s not just a quirky habit, it’s a signal. In many cases, it’s your dog’s way of telling you their immune system is reacting to something in their environment. Grass, pollen, lawn chemicals, and everyday irritants can build up on their paws with every step outside. The good news is that something as simple as a daily paw soak can dramatically reduce that exposure and bring real relief, often without the need for medications.
My blog walks you through a gentle, effective at-home routine that helps remove allergens, calm inflammation, and support healing from the outside in. It also covers when to look deeper, including yeast overgrowth, food sensitivities, or parasites, so you can address the root cause, not just the symptoms.
Link to my article, in the comments ⬇️🐾

03/14/2026

Beautiful moments with my fur kids 🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾🐾

03/14/2026

We are nearly a month away from our first Pet CPR & First Aid Training of the year! Register now to be prepared to care for your furry friends in an emergency. Spots are still available!

Presented by Bucks County CPR & First Aid, this 2-hour class will equip pet owners with essential knowledge and hands-on skills to:
• Recognize emergencies
• Provide immediate care
• Stabilize dogs & cats until veterinary help is available

Cost: $100 per person

Dates (on Saturdays):
April 18 at the Lahaska Shelter
July 18 at the Quakertown Shelter
October 17 at the Lahaska Shelter

Time: 9:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.

Class size is limited, so register for a session today by visiting:

Buckscountycpr.com

*To register for a Lahaska date: Click "Enroll Today" under Pet CPR & First-Aid - LAHASKA on the Home page. Scroll to the date on the calendar (4/18/26 or 10/17/26) and hit “Click to Enroll”.*

*To register for the Quakertown date: Click "Enroll Today" under Pet CPR & First-Aid - QUAKERTOWN on the Home page. Scroll to the date on the calendar (7/18/26) and hit “Click to Enroll”.*

03/14/2026

Best probiotic after antibiotics for dogs? New peer-reviewed study shows that antibiotics clearly disrupt a dog’s gut microbiome, a condition called dysbiosis or leaky gut, which can lead to diarrhea, vomiting, poor nutrient absorption, food intolerances, inflammation, and potential immune or behavior changes.

However, when the probiotic yeast Saccharomyces boulardii (along with beneficial bacteria) was given during and after antibiotics, it:

· Helped total bacteria recover faster
· Helped microbial diversity return to normal sooner
· Made the microbiome more stable after antibiotics

The yeast (S. boulardii) also improved the gut’s fermentation environment.

Antibiotics fight harmful bacteria but also wipe out some of the “good” bacteria in the gut. Since S. boulardii is not bacteria, it is not affected by antibiotics. This means it can survive and continue supporting healthy gut bacteria even when taken alongside antibiotics.

That is why included Saccharomyces boulardii in PRIMITIVE PROBIOTICS™, a science-driven approach to rebuilding and maintaining your dog’s microbiome using strains inspired by wild canids, healthy domestic dogs, and living soil.

If you want to explore a science backed probiotic option for your dog, comment BETTERBELLY and we’ll DM you the link.

03/14/2026

Preventing unwanted litters is a goal we all share, but it may be time to rethink the surgical approach. Hormone-sparing procedures such as hysterectomy and vasectomy can make dogs sterile while preserving natural hormone balance, and they can often be performed as early as 8 weeks of age.

A large peer reviewed analysis has raised important questions. In this hospital population, spayed female dogs showed roughly 30 to 80 percent higher odds of several cancers compared with intact females. However, age remained the strongest driver of cancer risk overall.

Researchers reviewed medical records from 150,063 dogs and cats seen at the University of California, Davis Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital between 2000 and 2019. They evaluated which cancers were most common and how risk related to age, breed, s*x, and neuter status.

Spayed female dogs showed higher odds of several cancers compared with intact females:

• Lymphoid cancer (immune system cancers such as lymphoma): about 80 percent higher odds
• Mast cell tumor (a common skin cancer from allergy cells): about 60 percent higher odds
• Melanoma (cancer of pigment cells, often in the mouth or toes): about 40 percent higher odds

Download the free PDF with the latest research surrounding spay & neuter syndrome, link in comments.

03/14/2026

Dogs with gut problems may struggle with more than digestion.💩 A new peer reviewed study in the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association found dogs with chronic digestive disease (chronic enteropathy) showed significantly more stress, anxiety, and emotional reactivity than healthy dogs. They were also almost twice as likely to show distress when their owners prepared to leave the house.

Even dogs with mild digestive symptoms showed signs of emotional strain, supporting what scientists call the gut brain axis, the close connection between the digestive system and the brain.

Researchers suggest treatment should support the whole dog, including:
• gut health and inflammation
• microbiome balance (diet, prebiotics, probiotics, microbiome therapies)
• stress and emotional wellbeing

Supporting emotional health may also help improve digestive health.

Certain probiotic strains studied in dogs may help support both the gut and nervous system, including Lactiplantibacillus plantarum LP815 (a GABA producing strain linked to calming effects), Optibiome® BS50 Bacillus subtilis (shown to improve stool quality and digestion), and Lactobacillus fermentum K9-2 (supports gut barrier health and helps reduce inflammation).

These strains are included in PRIMITIVE PROBIOTICS™, developed by Dr. Karen Becker, the most followed veterinarian in the world, to help rebuild and support the canine microbiome.

👉Comment BETTERBELLY and we’ll DM you the link.

03/14/2026

Supporting Pets with Liver Disease — and Protecting Healthy Livers🐶🐱

Dogs and cats can lose up to 70% of their liver function before showing symptoms. That means subtle changes like mildly elevated ALT, bile sludge, rising bilirubin, or gallbladder dysfunction may appear long before a pet looks sick.

One of the liver supporting supplements you should have in your toolbox - Milk thistle (silymarin) has been studied for its ability to:
• Protect liver cells from damage
• Support regeneration of injured hepatocytes
• Reduce oxidative stress
• Help normalize elevated liver enzymes

When the liver is under stress, this herb can provide powerful hepatoprotective support.

💊For healthy pets, milk thistle is often pulsed during periods of increased liver stress (medications, anesthesia, pesticide exposure). Typical dosing is 5–10 mg/kg/day for dogs and 2–5 mg/kg/day for cats (standardized silymarin).

Today at 12pm EDT we’re discussing the hidden liver and gallbladder issues more and more pets are facing, what bloodwork is really telling us, and the supplements you can use early to support liver health.

⬇️Plus download our Liver Support Cheat Sheet with protocols and dosages for pets dealing with a variety of liver and gallbladder conditions in the Inside Scoop group files.

👉 Comment SCOOPERS and we’ll send you the link to join our subscription group and watch today’s episode Live on Facebook. And when you subscribe to our community website, you’ll also get access to the replay and the entire 6+ years of past episodes, expert interviews, ebooks, and more.

03/14/2026

Dental issues, especially gum disease and tartar buildup, are the most commonly diagnosed health problem in dogs. In fact, up to 80 to 90% of dogs over age 3 develop periodontal disease, often driven by an imbalance in the oral microbiome, including bacteria such as Porphyromonas gulae.

But dental disease does not just affect the mouth. Dogs with gum disease swallow large amounts of bacteria every day, which can disrupt the gut microbiome and contribute to inflammation throughout the body. At the same time, gut dysbiosis can weaken immune balance and potentially worsen the body’s response to plaque bacteria. Researchers call this connection the oral gut axis, where the health of the mouth and gut microbiomes influence each other.

Humic acid, a natural compound found in soil and plant matter, can help support this connection. Research shows it can strengthen the intestinal barrier, bind harmful toxins, and help reduce inflammatory signals in the body. Because the mouth and gut are connected, supporting gut balance can help reduce immune reactions linked to gum inflammation.

Other studies on periodontal disease suggest humic acid can also reduce gum inflammation and bone loss, help protect the tissues that support teeth, and support oral wound healing.

This is one reason why Dr Karen Becker included humic and fulvic acids in LIVER LIFT™, a science driven, nature powered formula designed to support the liver, kidneys, blood, lymphatic system, and healthy cellular function in the face of everyday stressors.

If you want to explore a science backed daily detox option for your dog or cat, comment DAILYDETOX and we will message you the link.